Celebrated quartet open Berkhamsted Music Society’s 60th season

The 60th season of concerts staged by the Berkhamsted Music Society kicks off this weekend in suitable style.

The Cavaleri Quartet are the society’s first guests, performing at the town’s Civic Centre on Saturday evening, from 7.30pm.

Pianist Benjamin Frith and The Musicke Companye with A Yuletide Tale are both promised before the end of the year, but the season starts with performances of string quartets by Mozart, Janacek and Beethoven.

Since it was formed in 2008 the Cavaleri Quartet has built up a reputation as one of the leading European ensembles, and have the plaudits to prove it.

They were awarded the Brahms and Mendelssohn prizes at last year’s Hamburg International chamber music competition and were also special prize winners at the 2011 Premio Paolo Borciani international competition for string quartets.

Fans can buy a season ticket which will cover all five dates for £45, or catch individual concerts for £13 – tickets are available on the door.

Music lovers aged under 18 don’t pay a penny – you can find out more details online at www.berkhamstedmusic.co.uk.

And that’s not the only treat in store for music lovers over the coming week.

Tuesday’s lunchtime concert at St Mary’s Church in Hemel Hempstead will feature the unusual combination of euphonium and piano.

Martin Smith, who learned to play the euphonium in a Salvation Army band, has returned to the instrument in his more mature years and will be playing alongside St Mary’s director of music Simon Pusey, with work by a wide range of composers including Rossini on their brief programme.

Concerts start at 12.30pm and are free, although a suggested donation of £3 would be welcome.

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